Fastener for ski boots and the like footwear

ABSTRACT

A fastener device for securing the flaps of ski boots while adjustably varying the tightness of the boot for maximum skiing efficiency, comprising a longitudinally extensible and contractable strip assembly, hinged at one end to one flap of the boot and having its other end adapted to be hooked to the other flap of the boot, manually rotatable means for extending and contracting the strip assembly and means to releasably retain the strip assembly against extension.

United States Patent Salzman et al.

[451 June 13, 1972 F A STENER FOR SKI BOOTS AND THE LIKE FOOTWEAR Inventors: Otto Salzman, 380 Roy Avenue, Dorval, Quebec; Paul Salzmln, 976 Moncriefi Road, Mount Royal, Quebec, both of Canada Filed: June 29, 1970 Appl. No.: 50,559

Foreign Application Priority Data July 8, 1969 Great Britain ..34,356/69 U.S. Cl ..36/50, 36/25 AL, 24/68 B Int. Cl. ..A43b 23/00 Field of Search ..36/2.5 AL, 50; 24/68 B, 68 R,

24/68 SK, [9, 274 WB References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1940 Bowers ..24/68 B X Edwards ..24/68 8 3,214,809 1l/l965 3,408,752 11/1968 Lollman ..36/2.5 AL

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 250,829 11/1966 Austria, ..36/2.5 AL 1,485,767 9/1969 Germany ..36/2.5 AL

Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest Attorney-Pierre Lesperance [57] ABSTRACT A fastener device for securing the flaps of ski boots while adjustably varying the tightness of the boot for maximum skiing efficiency, comprising a longitudinally extensible and contractable strip assembly, hinged at one end to one flap of the boot and having its other end adapted to be hooked to the other flap of the boot, manually rotatable means for extending and contracting the strip assembly and means to releasably retain the strip assembly against extension.

12 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures a seenel PAIENTEDJun 13 I972 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTORS Otto Paul SALZMAN AGENT Pmnnmm 13 m2 SHEET 2 BF 2 IIIIIII'TIRIIIIIIJI I! 25 II IN VE N TORS Otto Paul} SALZMAN AGENT FASTENER FOR SKI BOOTS AND THE LIKE FOOTWEAR The present invention relates to fastening devices for securing the flaps of ski boots and the like sports boots in an adjustable manner, so as to vary the tightness of the boot for maximum skiing efficiency or for other purposes.

It is known to provide toggle lever type buckles for securing the flaps of ski boots, in which a lever member, pivotally mounted on one flap, is provided with a plurality of grooves for adjustably receiving a loop mounted on the other flap of the boot.

In these known systems the leverage provided by the toggle lever is greatest when the least amount of tightening force is required to be applied, because minimum tightening is obtained when the loop is inserted into the lever groove nearest the lever pivotal axis. lnversely, minimum leverage is obtained when the greatest amount of tightening force is required. Thus, in practice, the skier has to manipulate the buckle several times before obtaining the desired boot tightness. He first opens the lever, inserts the loop in the lever groove nearest the pivotal axis, closes the lever to effect an initial tightening of the boot, and repeats the same operations one or more timesby progressively inserting the loop into grooves progressively distant from the lever pivotal axis until he finally obtains the desired tightness. This is a time-consuming procedure and is cumbersome specially when wearing gloves or mittens. Moreover, the force required to be applied on the lever has to be produced transversely of the ski boot, which requires lateral movement of the skiers arm, such a moveline 9-9 of FIG. 4;

ment normally incapable of developing a great amount of force.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device of the character described, which obviates the above-noted disadvantages in that tightening of the fastener is obtained by a simple rotation of a knob which requires a natural twisting movement of the arm and hand and in that the desired tightening adjustment is automatically obtained by a single rotating action.

Another object of the present invention resides in a fastener of the character described, comprising two overlapping strips of substantial width and adapted to be put under tension, thereby exerting an inward force distributed over a relatively large area of the ski boot, whereby the wearer's foot is not subjected to localized pressure, thus enabling to reduce the number of fastening devices on the boot.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a fastener device of the character described, used for closing the boot openings and wherein one or the two overlying marginal zones of the vamp flaps, and/or the tongue of the back opening, are longitudinally reinforced by rigid plates for further distributing over a large area the inward pressure exerted by the fastener device.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a ski boot provided with a back opening above the heel closable by the fastener of the invention and wherein the base members for the fastener extend along a substantial portion of the length of the flaps defining said back opening, to thereby distribute over the entire length of the opening the tightening pull exerted by the fastener device.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a ski boot provided with a fastener device of the character described having a back opening, a fastener being provided across said back opening as well as across the front vamp opening, whereby selective adjustment of the front and back fasteners is easily achieved to vary inclination at which the skiers leg is held by the boot, in accordance with the type of skiing desired to be made.

Another object of the invention resides in a fastener which can be quickly released by actuating a lever and without actually unhooking the fastener device, and conversely can be quickly put back into its functional downhill position.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a fastener device of the character described, of simple and durable construction, which can be easily tightened and released while wearing gloves or mittens and which operates efficiently even when covered by snow or ice.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a ski boot provided with the fastener devices in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front end elevation of the ski boot;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the ski boot;

FIG. 4 is a partial rear end elevation of the ski boot showing the rear fastener device in open position;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a partial rear end elevation of the ski boot showing the fiap of the rearv opening opposite the flap shown in FIG. 4 and fitted with the base plate servingas a hook member;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the assembly of the longitudinally extensible and contractable strip assembly with the guide member and the rotating handle for adjusting the length of the strip assembly;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, taken along FIG. 10 is a plan section of the guide casing and showing the pawl and ratchet mechanism for maintaining the adjustable strips against longitudinal extensioning movement, the pawl plate engaging the ratchet wheel;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 10 and taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 9 and showing the pawl plate in ratchet wheel releasing position;

FIG. 12 is a partial top plan view of the ski boot and showing in side elevation one fastener device of the invention in accordance with a modified embodiment; and

FIG. 13 is a partial plan view of the free end of the strip assembly of the modified embodiment, and taken along line 13-13 ofFIG. 12.

In the drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout.

FIGS. 1,2, and 3 show a ski boot A comprising an outer sole l and an upper 2 defining a foot receiving opening 3 at the top of the upper, said opening being in communication with and extended by a front opening 4 extending along the vamp centrally thereof down to zone 5. The boot is also provided with a back opening 6 extending downwardly above the heel to terminate at zone 7. The tongue 8 closes the front opening 4, while a tongue 9 closes the'back opening 6. The tongue 8 is secured to the vamp along zone 5 while the tongue 9 is secured to the upper rear part along zone 7. The tongue 9 is substantially stiff in its longitudinal direction and extends above the upper to firmly embrace the back of the skier's leg to a point well above the heel.

The ski boot is provided, in the example shown, with three fastener devices 10 in accordance with the invention. There is one fastener 10 adapted to extend across the back opening 6 to adjustably secure the two upper flaps l1 defining said rear opening, and there are two fastener devices 10 adapted to extend across the front opening 3, each adapted to secure the two flap portions 12 defining said front opening.

Referring to the fastener device for the back of the boot, it will be seen that it comprises a base member 13, consisting of a rigid metal plate firmly secured by screws or the like 14 to one flap 11 along the edge of said flap. An extensible and contractable strip assembly, generally indicated at 15, is hinged to base member 13. Said strip assembly 15 comprises a first strip 16 hinged at one end by means of a hinge 17 to the base member 13. The outer end portion of strip 16 has a longitudinal elongated slot 18 provided on one of its longitudinal sides with rack teeth 19. The strip assembly further includes a second strip 20 having an end portion overlapping the outer end portion of strip 16, that is the portion having the rack teeth 19. The overlapping portion of strip 20 is also provided with a longitudinal slot 21 having along one longitudinal edge rack teeth 22.

The two strips 16 and 20 are maintained in overlapping position and in longitudinal alignment by means of a guide member 23 in the form of a flat casing extending over the overlapping portions of the two strips and comprising a top wall 24 and longitudinal side walls 25 terminated by inwardly protruding tab 26. V

A flanged partition 27 is inserted within guide member 23 with the flanges 28 of said partition abutting against the inner face of top wall 24.

The two strips 16 and 20 are maintained in overlapped position flat against each other by being inserted between the guideways defined by the side walls 25, the tabs 26 and the partition 27. The longitudinal side walls 25 maintain said strips in longitudinal alignment. The two strips are capable of Iongitudinal movement relative to each other and also of longitudinal movement relative to guide member 23..

The slots 18 and 21 of the strips 16 and 20 are in registering relationship with the rack teeth 19 being spaced from and facing the rack teeth 22.

To prevent ice from adhering to the contacting faces of the two strips and to the contacting surfaces of strip 20 and of partition member 27 which would prevent extension and contraction of the strip assembly 15, the inner surface of strip 20 is lined with bands 29 adhering thereto and made of a synthetic resin and, similarly, the outer face of partition 27 is lined with a band 30 of the same synthetic resin.

A main shaft 31 extends centrally across guide member 23 being joumalled, in partition '27 and in top wall 24, the latter having an upset flange 32 serving as a bearing for the shaft.

The end of the shaft protruding from partition 27 is formed with an'integral pinion 33 which extends through the registering slots 18 and 21 and meshes with the rack teeth 19 and 22. Pinion 33 preferably has four teeth which, in the fully extended or fully retracted position of the strips 16 and 20, abut against the ends of the slots 18 and 21 to form a positive limit to the extension and contraction movements of the two strips without the teeth coming out of meshing engagement with the rack teeth 19 and 22.

The outer end of the shaft 31 protrudes above top wall 24 and an elongated knob or operator member 34 is rigidly secured to said shaft by means of a block 48 for rotating the shaft in either direction.

A ratchet wheel 35 is removably keyed to shaft 31 and is.

located in the compartment 52 defined between top wall 24 and partition 27. In this zone theshaft 31 is'provided with four ribs 36, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, engagingsuitably conformed grooves made in the ratchet wheel.

Aipawl plate 37 is mounted within the compartment housin g ratchet wheel 35 and has a central hole 38 freely receiving the ratchet wheel 35. The edge of said hole has two pawl teeth 39 adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet wheel 35 to prevent rotation of said wheel in one direction, while allowing rotation in the other direction.

, The pawl plate 37 thus acts as a holding pawl. Said pawl plate has longitudinal straight parallel side edges 40 in slidable and guided relation with the inner surface of the flanges 28 of partition 27.

A leaf spring 41 has one end inserted into an inclined groove 42 of pawl plate 37, while its outer end abuts against an end flange 43 of flanged partition 27. Spring 41 tends to move pawl plate 37, which is guided by the guide member 23 in a position in which the pawl teeth 39 engage with the teeth of ratchet wheel 35, as shown in FIG. 10.

To release the pawl plate from engagement with ratchet wheel 35, a cam member 44 is engageable with a transverse edge 45 of pawl plate 37 opposite to the pawl teeth 39. Cam

member 44 is secured to a secondary shaft 46 which extends through the partition 27 and top wall 24 and is joumalled therein. g

I An operating handle 47 is secured to the secondary shaft 46 underneath the partition 27. The shaft 46 is upset at its two ends to help maintain the partition 27 in engagement with top wall 24. Partition 27 is further maintained assembled with top wall 24 by pinion 33 and block member 48 to which the knob 34 is secured.

Cam .member 44 is preferably of equilateral triangular shape with flattened apices 39 between the flat edge faces 50. A bow-shaped spring 51 extends across the compartment 52 with its end portions abutting againstthe flanges 53 of partition 27 and its central notched portion 54 in alignment with the two shafts 31 and 46.

In the position of handle lever 47 extending longitudinally of the strip assembly 15, one edge face 50 is maintained parallel to the transverse edge 45 of pawl plate 37, as shown in FIG. 10, allowing leaf spring 41 to urge pawl plate 37 with its teeth 39 in engagement with ratchet wheel 35. In this longitudinal position of handle lever 47, an apex 49 of the cam member 44 engages notch 54 in a resilient manner and, therefore, the lever and cam member are resiliently maintained in their pawl plate releasing position. When handle. lever 47 is pivoted either way from its central position shown in FIG. 10 so as to bring an apex 49 of cam 44 to bear against the holding plate 37 to release the same from engagement from the ratchet wheel 35, two apices 49 of the cam member bear symmetrically against the spring 51 and, therefore, the latter resiliently maintains the cam member in pawl plate releasing position.

The free end of strip 20 is centrally notched to define side legs which are rolled, as shown at 55, to form sleeves or bushings for receiving a pin 56,,as shown in FIG. 4. This pin 56 is adapted to be removably latched unto a hook 57 of a base member 58 consisting of an elongated rigid metal plate, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, said base member 58 being rigidly secured by screws 59 or the like to the back flap 1 l of the ski boot A opposite the flap 11 carrying base plate 13.

Hook 57 is integral with base plate 58 and is upstanding therefrom. The fastener'device is manipulated as follows.

The entire strip assembly 15 can be rotated about hinge 17 between open position, as shown in FIG. 4, so as to easily insert his foot within the boot, and closed position across opening 6. In the latter position, pin 56 is made to engage hook 57. Then simple rotation of knob 34 causes shortening of the strip assembly 15 and consequent tightening of the boot flaps 11 about the users foot. 1

The holding pawl 37 engaging ratchet wheel 35 prevents extension of strip assembly 15. To open up the boot, it is only necessary to shift handle lever 47in one or the other direction to release the pawl plate 37 from ratchet wheel 35 and to rotate knob 34 in the opposite direction to cause extension of the strip'assembly, which is then free to be unhooked from hook 57. The strip assembly is then swung out about its hinge 17, if necessary. V I 1 Because base members 13 and 58 are of elongated shape and extend along the edges of the back flaps 11, the tightening force exerted by the strip assembly 15 is transmitted over the entire length of the back flaps 11, thereby distributing the inward pressure on the foot and leg over a large area, preventing localized pressure and resulting in improved comfort.

In the ski boot described or illustrated, there are two additional fastener devices 10 identical to the one just described and provided across the front boot opening to tighten the front flaps 12 over the foot instep.

The fastener devices have base members 13 and 58' respectively, which differ from the base members 13 and 58 in that they are much shorter than the latter. These base members 13 and 58 are preferably located at quite a distance from the edge of the front flaps 12, so as to tension the sides of the upper for better tightening of the boot around the users foot. I

The width of the strips 16 and 20 distributes the pressure on the foot over a relatively large area, but in order to distribute this pressure over yet a larger area, the marginal portions of the two front flaps 12 are preferably lined with an elongated metal plate, such as the overlying plate 60 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this plate extending over the vamp, from zone 5 to the area where the boot makes a'relatively sharp angle to start enclosing the user's leg. g

An elongated pressure distributing plate 63 is also preferably secured to tongue 9 to distribute over a larger area the pressure exerted by the overlying strips 16 and 20 of the back fastener device.

It will be noted that relative adjustments of the front and back fasteners 10 enable to adjust the inclination of the user's leg with respect to the boot to suit different types of skiing. For instance, tighter adjustment of the back fastener device with a consequent looser tightening of the front fastener device near the top opening of the boot, will result in the boot retaining the leg at a more pronounced angle with respect to the vertical.

Rotation of the knob 34 provides for a fine adjustment of the boot tightness without any further manipulation. The user can easily obtain the desired tightness by judging the progressively increasing force opposed by the knob 34 during its rotation. The fastener devices can be quickly released when not actually skiing, such as when taking a ski lift, by simply flipping lever 47 to one side and without having to unhook the fastener. Conversely, the boot is quickly tightened preparatory for actual skiing by returning lever 47 to pawl releasing position and by rotating knob 34 to the desired extent.

The two strips 16 and 20 are preferably made of stiff metal with a certain resiliency and are preshaped to have a longitudinal curve conforming to the curve of outer surface of the boot portion across which the fastener device is adapted to extend. Thus, it is a simple matter to press down on the outer end of the strip assembly to engage the book 57 with'pin 56.

However, in accordance with a modification shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, an extension piece 6l may be hinged about pin 56 and provided with its own cross pin 62 adapted to be hooked unto hook57. This pivoted extension 61 may, in some cases, be easier to latch unto hook 57 and to unlatch therefrom than pin 56.

This arrangement also provides with a coarse adjustment of the tightness of the fastener, because hook 57 can be made to engage either pin 56 or pin 62. I

To prevent snow and ice from entering compartment 52 housing the pawl and ratchet system and possibly interfering with the functioning system, the junction between guide member or casing 23 and partition 27 is preferably sealed with a sealing compound.

Although the ski boot model shown has three fasteners 10, it is understood that the number and location of the fasteners can vary and one or more fasteners in accordance with the invention can be used in association with other types of fasteners.

What we claim is:

l. A fastening device for securing together first and second flaps of a ski boot and the like sports'boot, comprising a first base member fixedly secured to said first-flap, a second base member fixedly secured to said second flap and having hook means, a first strip pivotally attached to said first base member vat one end. a second strip having a first end portion overlapping the free end portion of said first strip, and a second end portion detachably securable to said hook means, guide means slidably receiving the overlapped end portions of said first and second strips and constraining said strips to relative longitudinal movement and to longitudinal movement of each strip relative to said guide means, manually rotatable means carried by said guide means and engaging said strips for causing relative longitudinal movement of said strips in opposite direction to thereby shorten or lengthen the assembly of said strips and adjust the spacing of said first and second flaps when said assembly is attached to said hook means, and releasable locking means to positively lock said first and second strips against lengthening of said assembly, said first and second strips forming sets of rack teeth in their overlapping end portions, spaced from and facing each other and said rotatable means including a shaft rotatably carried by said guide means extending between said sets of rack teeth, pinion means on said shaft in meshing engagement with both sets of rack teeth for effecting said relative longitudinal movement of said strips, and a manually operated knob means secured to said shaft to rotate the latter, said releasable locking means including a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, and a holding pawl movably mounted in said guide means and engageable with said ratchet wheel to prevent rotation of said pinion in one direction.

2. A fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strips are substantially rigid and longitudinally curved to conform to the curved surface of a boot.

3. A fastening device as claimed in claim 2, further including an extension hinged to the free end of said second strip and having a free end portion removably engageable with said hook means, whereby said hook means may engage the free end of said second strip or the free end of said extension.

4. A fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base members are of elongated shape transverse to the longitudinal extent of said strips and are made of rigid material.

5. A fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding pawl consists of a plate having a hole freely receiving said ratchet wheel and provided at its edge with pawl teeth for removably meshing with said ratchet wheel, said pawl plate constrained by said guide means to longitudinal movement relative to said ratchet wheel between ratchet wheel engaging position and ratchet releasing position and spring means to urge said pawl plate in ratchet wheel engaging position.

6. A fastening device as claimed in claim 5, further including a manually operable means to release said pawl from said ratchet wheel.

7. A fastening device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said last-named means include a cam member engageable with said pawl plate opposite said spring means, a secondary shaft carrying said cam member and joumalled in said guide means and a handle means for manually rotating said secondary shaft between a position of said cam member allowing release of said pawl plate and a position of said cam member maintaining said pawl plate in ratchet wheel releasing position.

8. A fastening device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cam member has a triangular flat shape with a flat straight edge face adapted to be opposite a transverse flat edge face of said holding pawl plate in the ratchet wheel engaging osition of said pawl plate and with one or the other of two apices of said cam member engageable with said transverse edge face in the ratchet wheel releasing position of said pawl plate, and spring means engageable with the apices of said cam member to resiliently maintain said cam member in anyone of three angular positions.

9. A fastening device for securing together first and second flaps of a ski boot and the like sports'boot, comprising a first base member and a second base member fixedly secured each to one of said flaps, a first strip pivotally attached to said first base member at one end for pivotal movement, a second strip adapted to be detachably secured at one end to said hook means, said first and second strips having overlapping portions and in longitudinal alignment, a casing having parallel guide walls extending about the longitudinal edges of the overlapped portions of said strips and constraining said strips to relative longitudinal movement and to longitudinal movement of each strip relative to said casing, said guide walls of said casing having inwardly extending tabs overlying said strips, said casing having a partition wall forming a compartment therewith, each strip having a longitudinal slot, each slot having a longitudinal edge forming rack teeth, the two slots being in register and the rack teeth of one strip spaced from and facing the rack teeth of the other strip, a shaft carried by said casing and partition and extending through said slots of said two strips, a pinionon said shaft meshing with the rack teeth of each strip, whereby rotation of said shaft will effect relative longitudinal movement of said strips in opposite direction, a knob secured to said shaft for rotating the latter, a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft and disposed within said compartment, a pawl plate disposed within said compartment having a central hole freely surrounding said ratchet wheel and ratchet teeth engageable with said ratchet wheel, said pawl plate guided by the walls of said compartment for movement between ratchet wheel engaging position and ratchet wheel releasing position, spring means in said compartment urging said pawl plate in ratchet wheel engaging position to prevent rotation of said pinion in one direction, a cam member disposed in said compartment, a secondary shaft journalled in said casing and to which said cam member is secured, a lever secured to said secondary shaft for rotating said cam member, said cam member engageable with said pawl plate in selected angular positions to maintain said pawl plate in ratchet wheel releasing position, said cam member in another selected angular position releasing said pawl plate, and spring means in said compartment engageable with said cam member to resiliently maintain the latter in anyone of its selected angular positions.

10. A sports boot comprising an outer sole and an upper on said sole having an inlet opening for the insertion of a foot at the rear end of the upper, first and second elongated base 7 members of rigid construction extending longitudinally of said rear opening on each side thereof and secured to said boot upper, said second base member having a hook means, an assembly of first and second substantially rigid longitudinally curved strips overlapping each other, guide means slidably receiving the overlapped portions of said strip and constraining said strips to relative longitudinal movement, manuallyoperated rotatable means mounted on said guide means and engaging said'strips for effecting relative longitudinal movement of said strips, one of said strips hinged to said first base member, the other of said strips having means at its outer portion removably engageable with said hook means, whereby said strip assembly can be pivoted about said first base member to a position across said opening and hooked to said hook means of said second base member and rotation of said rotatable means will cause shortening of said strip assembly to tighten said upper about the users back leg portion, and releasable locking means to lock said strip assembly against lengthening movement said first and second strips forming sets of rack teeth in their overlapping end portions, spaced from and facing each other and said rotatable means including a shaft rotatably carried by said guide means extending between said sets of rack teeth, pinion means on said shaft in meshing engagement with both sets of rack teeth for effecting said relative longitudinal movement of said strips, and a manually operated knob means secured to said shaft to rotate the latter, said releasable locking means including a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, and a holding pawl movably mounted in said guide means and engageable with said ratchet wheel to prevent rotation of said pinion in one direction.

11. Afastening device for pulling together the end portions of a member encircling a human body part, said device comprising a hook means carried by one of said end portions, a hinge means carried by the other of said end portions, an assembly of first and second substantially rigid longitudinally curved strips overlapping each other, guide meansslidably receiving the overlapped portions of said strip and constraining said strips to relative longitudinal movement. manually operated rotatable means mounted on said guide means and engaging said strips for efi'ecting relative longitudinal movement of said strips, one of said strips carried by said hinge means, the other of said strips having means at its outer portion removably engageable with said hook means, whereby said strip assembly can be pivoted about said hinge means and hooked to said hook means and rotation of said rotatable means will cause lengthening or shortening of said strip assembly, and manually operable releasable locking means to lock said strip assembly against lengthening movement, said first and second strips forming sets of rack teeth in their overlapping end portions, spaced from and facing each other and said rotatable means including a shaft rotatably carried by said guide means extending between said sets of rack teeth, pinion means on said shaft in meshing engagement with both sets of rack teeth for effecting said relative longitudinal movement of said strips, and a manually operated knob means secured to said shaft to rotate the latter, said releasable locking means including a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, and holding pawl movably mounted in said guide means and engageable with said ratchet wheel to prevent rotation of said pinion in one direction. v

12.. The combination of a ski boot having a sole and an upper on said sole, said upper defining first and second flaps adapted to enclose a portion of the wearers foot, with fastening means for tightening said flaps to each other, said fastening means comprising afirst base member fixedly secured to said first flap, a second base member fixedly secured to said second flap and having hook means, a first strip pivotally attached to said first base member at one end, a second strip having a first end portion overlapping the free end portion of said first strip, and a second end portion detachably securable to said hook means, guide means slidably receiving the overlapped end portions of said first and second strips and constraining said strips to relative longitudinal movement and to longitudinal movement of each strip relative to said guide means, manually rotatable means carried by said guide means and engaging said strips for causing relative longitudinal movement of said strips in opposite direction to thereby shorten or lengthen the assembly of said strips and adjust the spacing of said first and second flaps when said assembly is attached to said hook means, and releasable locking means to positively lock said first and second strips against lengthening of said assembly, said first and second strips forming sets of rack teeth in their overlapping end portions, spaced from and facing each other and said-rotatable means including a shaft rotatably carried by said guide means extending between said sets of rack teeth, pinion means on said shaft in meshing engagement with both sets of rack teeth for effecting said relative longitudinal movement of said strips, and a manually operated knob means secured to said shaft to rotate the latter. 

1. A fastening device for securing together first and second flaps of a ski boot and the like sports boot, comprising a first base member fixedly secured to said first flap, a second base member fixedly secured to said second flap and having hook means, a first strip pivotally attached to said first base member at one end, a second strip having a first end portion overlapping the free end portion of said first strip, and a second end portion detachably securable to said hook means, guide means slidably receiving the overlapped end portions of said first and second strips and constraining said strips to relative longitudinal movement and to longitudinal movement of each strip relative to said guide means, manually rotatable means carried by said guide means and engaging said strips for causing relative longitudinal movement of said strips in opposite direction to thereby shorten or lengthen the assembly of said strips and adjust the spacing of said first and second flaps when said assembly is attached to said hook means, and releasable locking means to positively lock said first and second strips against lengthening of said assembly, said first and second strips forming sets of rack teeth in their overlapping end portions, spaced from and facing each other and said rotatable means including a shaft rotatably carried by said guide means extending between said sets of rack teeth, pinion means on said shaft in meshing engagement with both sets of rack teeth for effecting said relative longitudinal movement of said strips, and a manually operated knob means secured to said shaft to rotate the latter, said releasable locking means including a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, and a holding pawl movably mounted in said guide means and engageable with said ratchet wheel to prevent rotation of said pinion in one direction.
 2. A fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strips are substantially rigid and longitudinally curved to conform to the curved surface of a boot.
 3. A fastening device as claimed in claim 2, further including an extension hinged to the free end of said second strip and having a free end portion removably engageable with said hook means, whereby said hook means may engage the free end of said second strip or the free end of said extension.
 4. A fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base members are of elongated shape transverse to the longitudinal extent of said strips and are made of rigid material.
 5. A fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding pawl consists of a plate having a hole freely receiving said ratchet wheel and provided at its edge with pawl teeth for removably meshing with said ratchet wheel, said pawl plate constrained by said guide means to longitudinal movement relative to said ratchet wheel between ratchet wheel engaging position and ratchet releasing position and spring means to urge said pawl plate in ratchet wheel engaging position.
 6. A fastening device as claimed in claim 5, further including a manually operable means to release said pawl from said ratchet wheel.
 7. A fastening device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said last-named means include a cam member engageable with said pawl plate opposite said spring means, a secondary shaft carrying said cam member and journalled in said guide means and a handle means for manually rotating said secondary shaft between a position of said cam member allowing release of said pawl plate and a position of said cam member maintaining said pawl plate in ratchet wheel releasing position.
 8. A fastening device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cam member has a triangular flat shape with a flat straight edge face adapted to be opposite a transverse flat edge face of said holding pawl plate in the ratchet wheel engaging position of said pAwl plate and with one or the other of two apices of said cam member engageable with said transverse edge face in the ratchet wheel releasing position of said pawl plate, and spring means engageable with the apices of said cam member to resiliently maintain said cam member in anyone of three angular positions.
 9. A fastening device for securing together first and second flaps of a ski boot and the like sports boot, comprising a first base member and a second base member fixedly secured each to one of said flaps, a first strip pivotally attached to said first base member at one end for pivotal movement, a second strip adapted to be detachably secured at one end to said hook means, said first and second strips having overlapping portions and in longitudinal alignment, a casing having parallel guide walls extending about the longitudinal edges of the overlapped portions of said strips and constraining said strips to relative longitudinal movement and to longitudinal movement of each strip relative to said casing, said guide walls of said casing having inwardly extending tabs overlying said strips, said casing having a partition wall forming a compartment therewith, each strip having a longitudinal slot, each slot having a longitudinal edge forming rack teeth, the two slots being in register and the rack teeth of one strip spaced from and facing the rack teeth of the other strip, a shaft carried by said casing and partition and extending through said slots of said two strips, a pinion on said shaft meshing with the rack teeth of each strip, whereby rotation of said shaft will effect relative longitudinal movement of said strips in opposite direction, a knob secured to said shaft for rotating the latter, a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft and disposed within said compartment, a pawl plate disposed within said compartment having a central hole freely surrounding said ratchet wheel and ratchet teeth engageable with said ratchet wheel, said pawl plate guided by the walls of said compartment for movement between ratchet wheel engaging position and ratchet wheel releasing position, spring means in said compartment urging said pawl plate in ratchet wheel engaging position to prevent rotation of said pinion in one direction, a cam member disposed in said compartment, a secondary shaft journalled in said casing and to which said cam member is secured, a lever secured to said secondary shaft for rotating said cam member, said cam member engageable with said pawl plate in selected angular positions to maintain said pawl plate in ratchet wheel releasing position, said cam member in another selected angular position releasing said pawl plate, and spring means in said compartment engageable with said cam member to resiliently maintain the latter in anyone of its selected angular positions.
 10. A sports boot comprising an outer sole and an upper on said sole having an inlet opening for the insertion of a foot at the rear end of the upper, first and second elongated base members of rigid construction extending longitudinally of said rear opening on each side thereof and secured to said boot upper, said second base member having a hook means, an assembly of first and second substantially rigid longitudinally curved strips overlapping each other, guide means slidably receiving the overlapped portions of said strip and constraining said strips to relative longitudinal movement, manually-operated rotatable means mounted on said guide means and engaging said strips for effecting relative longitudinal movement of said strips, one of said strips hinged to said first base member, the other of said strips having means at its outer portion removably engageable with said hook means, whereby said strip assembly can be pivoted about said first base member to a position across said opening and hooked to said hook means of said second base member and rotation of said rotatable means will cause shortening of said strip assembly to tighten said upper about the user''s back leg portion, and releasable Locking means to lock said strip assembly against lengthening movement, said first and second strips forming sets of rack teeth in their overlapping end portions, spaced from and facing each other and said rotatable means including a shaft rotatably carried by said guide means extending between said sets of rack teeth, pinion means on said shaft in meshing engagement with both sets of rack teeth for effecting said relative longitudinal movement of said strips, and a manually operated knob means secured to said shaft to rotate the latter, said releasable locking means including a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, and a holding pawl movably mounted in said guide means and engageable with said ratchet wheel to prevent rotation of said pinion in one direction.
 11. A fastening device for pulling together the end portions of a member encircling a human body part, said device comprising a hook means carried by one of said end portions, a hinge means carried by the other of said end portions, an assembly of first and second substantially rigid longitudinally curved strips overlapping each other, guide means slidably receiving the overlapped portions of said strip and constraining said strips to relative longitudinal movement, manually operated rotatable means mounted on said guide means and engaging said strips for effecting relative longitudinal movement of said strips, one of said strips carried by said hinge means, the other of said strips having means at its outer portion removably engageable with said hook means, whereby said strip assembly can be pivoted about said hinge means and hooked to said hook means and rotation of said rotatable means will cause lengthening or shortening of said strip assembly, and manually operable releasable locking means to lock said strip assembly against lengthening movement, said first and second strips forming sets of rack teeth in their overlapping end portions, spaced from and facing each other and said rotatable means including a shaft rotatably carried by said guide means extending between said sets of rack teeth, pinion means on said shaft in meshing engagement with both sets of rack teeth for effecting said relative longitudinal movement of said strips, and a manually operated knob means secured to said shaft to rotate the latter, said releasable locking means including a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, and holding pawl movably mounted in said guide means and engageable with said ratchet wheel to prevent rotation of said pinion in one direction.
 12. The combination of a ski boot having a sole and an upper on said sole, said upper defining first and second flaps adapted to enclose a portion of the wearer''s foot, with fastening means for tightening said flaps to each other, said fastening means comprising a first base member fixedly secured to said first flap, a second base member fixedly secured to said second flap and having hook means, a first strip pivotally attached to said first base member at one end, a second strip having a first end portion overlapping the free end portion of said first strip, and a second end portion detachably securable to said hook means, guide means slidably receiving the overlapped end portions of said first and second strips and constraining said strips to relative longitudinal movement and to longitudinal movement of each strip relative to said guide means, manually rotatable means carried by said guide means and engaging said strips for causing relative longitudinal movement of said strips in opposite direction to thereby shorten or lengthen the assembly of said strips and adjust the spacing of said first and second flaps when said assembly is attached to said hook means, and releasable locking means to positively lock said first and second strips against lengthening of said assembly, said first and second strips forming sets of rack teeth in their overlapping end portions, spaced from and facing each other and said rotatable means including a shaft rotatably carried by said guide means extending beTween said sets of rack teeth, pinion means on said shaft in meshing engagement with both sets of rack teeth for effecting said relative longitudinal movement of said strips, and a manually operated knob means secured to said shaft to rotate the latter. 